Expert Cyber Guidance for BCCD members

Date Posted:Tue, 3rd Mar 2026

Expert Cyber Guidance for BCCD members

As tensions rise in the region and reports of Iranian-linked cyber activity continue, many small businesses in Dubai are understandably concerned. While cyber warfare often targets governments and critical infrastructure, smaller organisations can experience knock-on disruption — especially if services, suppliers, or data centres are affected.

 

The good news is that improving resilience doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are simple, practical steps you can take now.

1. Use more than one cloud provider (Multi-Cloud)

If all your systems rely on a single data centre or one cloud provider, your business could stop operating if that provider has an outage. Spreading your systems across two trusted cloud providers — or at least across multiple regions — reduces the risk of a single failure taking you offline.

It’s about avoiding “all your eggs in one basket.”

2. Protect yourself against ransomware

Iranian-linked groups — like others globally — have previously been associated by Western authorities with disruptive cyber campaigns, including ransomware-style attacks. Ransomware locks your files and demands payment to restore them.

To reduce the impact:

  • Back up your data every day
  • Store backups separately from your main systems
  • Make sure backups cannot be deleted or altered

If you can restore your systems quickly, ransomware becomes far less damaging.

3. Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Passwords alone are no longer enough. MFA adds a second step when logging in — such as a code sent to your phone. This simple measure blocks the vast majority of account compromise attempts, particularly email and cloud account takeovers.

4. Be alert to phishing attacks

Phishing emails are one of the most common entry points for attackers. These messages often look urgent legitimate — fake invoices, delivery updates, banking alerts, or even emails appearing to come from senior staff.

To reduce risk:

  • Train staff to pause before clicking links or opening attachments
  • Verify payment requests or bank detail changes by phone
  • Use email filtering and spam protection tools

In times of geopolitical tension, phishing campaigns often increase, using fear or urgency to trick businesses into acting quickly.

5. Keep systems updated

Many cyber attacks exploit known weaknesses in outdated software. Ensure automatic updates are enabled on computers, firewalls, servers, and cloud platforms. This is one of the easiest and most effective protections available.

6. Have a basic incident plan

If systems go down, confusion makes things worse. Decide in advance:

  • Who is responsible for IT decisions?
  • Who contacts customers?
  • How do we restore from backup?

Iran has a well-documented history of cyber operations as part of its wider strategic approach, and regional tensions can increase digital risk. However, resilience isn’t about panic — it’s about prep.

By focusing on multi-cloud infrastructure, ransomware protection, phishing awareness, strong login security, and clear planning, Dubai SMEs can continue operating confidently even during uncertain times.